NINE former Shabanie Mine workers and their families were on Monday evicted from company houses, a union representing the troubled company’s former employees has confirmed.

Shabanie Mine ex-Workers’ Association chairman, Hilton Nhidza told NewZimbabwe.com that the workers and their families had been left homeless and were living in the open.

“It’s unfortunate that management at the company have chosen to render these families homeless," said Nzira.

"Some now leave in makeshift houses while others stay in the open exposing them to the harsh weather conditions.”

Nhidza said four other families including his own were served with 48-hour eviction notices on Wednesday.

“Me and four other families were yesterday served with 48 hour ultimatums,” he said.

He said the affected families have since engaged lawyers to contest the evictions.

Over 500 workers including pensioners and families of deceased employees are said to be facing eviction from company houses.

Nzira said the workers werehowever, owed outstanding salaries by the company which backdated to 2009.

Shabanie and Mashaba Mines have been facing operational challenges for the past decade with workers going for several years without getting paid.

Recently the mines’ former owner, South Africa-based business tycoon, Mutumwa Mawere, recently filed a Constitutional Court application seeking to repossess companies taken over by government, including Shabanie and Mashaba mines.

The mines were taken over by government in 2004 after allegations that Mawere had externalised foreign currency. The businessman denies he allegations.